Tone-sharpener for drums.



No. 663,853. Patented Dec. l8, I900. E. BOULANGER.

' TONE SHARPENER FOR DRUMS.

(Application filed June 11, 1900.)

{No Model.)

minl'or use M Wi bra/Maw gmile mania UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMILE BOULANGER, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

TONE-SHARPENER FOR DRUMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 663,853, dated December 18, 1900.

Application filed June 11, 1900. Serial No.19,936 (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EMILE BOULANG-ER, of the city of St. Louis, State of Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Tone-Sharpeners for Drums, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof.

This invention relates to tone sharpeners for drums; and it consists of the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

Figure 1 is a sectional view showing the ap plication of my invention. Fig. 2 is a view in perspective, showing the manner in which the different parts are applied.

In the construction of this invention as shown I arrange a rod 1 to turn in bearings in the shell 2 of the drum, the said rod being provided on its outer end with the integral head 3. The inner end 4 of the rod 1 is arranged smaller than the outer portion for a purpose which will hereinafter appear.

Carried on the inner end of the body portion of the rod 1 is a washer 5, bearing against which is the inner end of a coil-spring 6, the same being mounted around the rod 1 and the outer end thereof bearing against a washer 7, which rests against the inner surface of the drum-shell 2. The power of the spring 6 is sufiicient to hold the rod 1 in any adjustment in which it is placed.

Secured to the inner side of the drum-shell 2 above the rod 1 is a bearing-plate 8, which is made to support the lower end 9 of a spring, the inner end 10 of which projects inwardly in a plane parallel with the head 11 of the drum. The said spring is coiled at 12, the purpose of which is to give it greater strength. Carried upon the inner end of the arm 10 is a block 13 of wood or analogous material, secured upon the upper sides of which are sections 14 of sheepskin, the Wool normally resting against the head 11 of the drum in the manner shown in Fig. l. The arm 10 of the spring is bent at 15, and secured within the bent portion is a cord 16, the lower end thereof being connected to the small inner end at of the rod 1 in the manner shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings.

As hereinbefore mentioned, the rod 1 is rotatably carried in bearings in the shell 2 of the drum, and to draw the sections 14 out of contact with the drum-head it is only necessary to engage the head 3 of the rod 1 and turn it in the desired direction, which will shorten the connection 16, thereby drawing the arm 10 downwardly and removing the sections of sheepskin from contact with the head of the drum. The positions of the different parts when so operated are shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1.

I claim 1. A tone-sharpener for drums, consisting of a spring supported in a bracket secured to the inner side drum-shell, a block carried by said spring, a pad carried upon said block, a rod mounted to turn in the shell of the drum, a flexible connection between said rod and spring, and means for holding the rod in any adjustment iii which it is placed, substantially as specified.

2. The herein-described device, comprising a spring supported to the inner side of the drum-shell, a block supported by said spring, sections of sheepskin carried by said block, a rod mounted to turn in the drum-shell, connections between said rod and said spring, and a spring for holding the said rod in any adjustment in which it is placed, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMILE BOULANGER.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIoKs, J. D. RIPPEY. 

